In its final round of testing results for 2023, Euro NCAP has delivered the safety results for eleven cars, including; Volkswagen ID.7, the latest BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-EQ EQE SUV, BYD TANG, Kia EV9, BYD SEAL-U, Honda ZR-V, and the Hyundai KONA. 

While the safety organisation has praised the fact that the majority of cars being tested are electric powered, they have also expressed concerns that the trend in consumer demand is still towards heavier, more powerful, and taller cars that not only put other drivers at risk, but also have an adverse effect on the environment. 

Of the 11 new cars rated, only three weighed less than two tonnes, and only one, the smart #3, was classified as a small family car.  

Some of the headline test results included a 5 star rating for the Volkswagen ID.7, which proved to have an excellent all-round performance in crash safety with a high 95% score in Adult Protection and achieving one of the year’s best overall scores. 

There was also a 5 star rating for the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-EQ EQE. Two offerings from the fast growing BYD group, the BYD TANG and the SEAL-U, also performed well and achieved a full points rating. Also achieving a maximum rating was the Kia EV9, which was praised for its child safety features. 

The new Chinese XPENG G9 received a double five-star rating, as it underwent simultaneous safety and Green NCAP testing. Meanwhile, the smart #3, also manufactured in China, this time by Geely, also received 5 stars, despite some concerns over far-side protection. 

Also tested was the VF8 SUV from the Vietnamese electric vehicle start-up, VinFast. The car achieved a four-star rating, let down by a lack of restraint system robustness but, otherwise, child and vulnerable user protection proved to be good. Honda’s small SUV the ZR-V performed just below the five-star performance thresholds, resulting in a four-star rating.  

Euro NCAP expressed disappointment in the test performance of the Hyundai KONA, which only just achieved 4 stars. This is said to be due to substandard test performance, in driver assistance and crash avoidance.